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With the new community outdoor season upon us it is timely to discuss some simple principles of injury prevention.

Football is played across a wide age spectrum, at various competitive levels, and in a diversity of environmental conditions.

It has great benefits physically and psychologically. However, enjoyment of the sport can be impacted upon by injury.

Injury can be classified as acute or overuse (chronic/repetitive) and may or may not be a result of direct contact.

One of the main injury risk factors is incomplete recovery from a previous injury.

Therefore it is important to ensure you have engaged in appropriate rehabilitation/treatment and allowed adequate time for recovery from any previous injury.

It can be wise to consult with a doctor or practitioner such as physiotherapist etc, if specific rehabilitation or treatment advice is required.

Fatigue either in general or in a specific part of a game can contribute to injury risk. Improvement in general, and sports specific fitness can reduce injury risk.

Training schedule or load is important to consider. For example, in older age groups, an awareness of periodisation of training, that is conditioning, pre-competition and competition periods, and factoring in recovery or easier weeks can be considered. Avoid training overload.

Sports specific refers to training appropriate for the skills and physical strength, flexibility, balance and agility requirements of that sport.

Warm up, inclusive of dynamic stretching, is important prior to a training session.

FIFA11+ is an injury prevention program developed by international experts that can be used as a complete warm up in itself.

This program has been scientifically researched extensively and proven to reduce injury rates in footballers dramatically.

The program can be found on the FIFA website.

There should be an appropriate cool-down after training or a match which could incorporate stretching for example.

Attention should be given to adequate recovery between training or after matches.

Current research has shown one of the main factors to assist with recovery from physical exercise is adequate sleep.

Appropriate nutrition and hydration also assist with recovery and performance.

Protective equipment such as shin pads and goalkeeper gloves and padding not just in matches but also in training is helpful.

Taping ankles, for example, can play a role in injury prevention.

Football boots that provide appropriate support for one’s particular foot type can be considered, particularly with respect to lower limb overuse injury.

The condition of the playing field is an external factor in injury risk.

And, obviously, adopting a fair attitude and avoidance of deliberate foul play goes without saying.

In younger children, being mindful of the need for extra stretching during growth spurts can negate some particular injuries that affect children, example Sever’s Disease and Osgood-Schlatter’s Disease.

These are some of the simple measures that can be considered in order to prevent injury, maximise enjoyment of participation, and in some instances assist with performance.

Appropriate further online reading resources on FIFA11+ and other medical articles can include:

A dominant performance from Australia has seen them finish 5th in the Cyprus Cup thanks to a 6-2 win over the Czech Republic in Paralimni, Cyprus.

Despite conceding the advantage early, goals from six different goalscorers in an strong attacking effort saw the Matildas top last year’s Cyprus Cup result.

“The variety we have in our attack is one of our biggest strengths,” said head coach Alen Stajcic.

“We don’t have to reply on just one or two players to score, we’ve got a range of options who all bring something different.”

In an action packed opening 20 minutes, it was the Czechs who took a surprise early lead with their first attack.

Failing to clear the danger area, the Matildas were punished when Pavla Benyrova wrong footed Mackenzie Arnold for the opening goal.

The goal was the wake up call Australia needed and minutes later they were level when Katrina Gorry met Michelle Heyman’s cut back from just yards out.

The lively Heyman was then again the action in the 13th minute when she skipped by her marker before being brought down in the area. Heyman took the resulting penalty Czech Republic keeper Hana Sloupova guessed right and palmed away the spot kick.

Three minutes later Australia had the well deserved lead thanks to a bursting run from Caitlin Foord. Foord dribbled inside, struck with Sloupova’s parry falling to Emily van Egmond who turned it home.

The all action Foord went close again to scoring as she latched onto a central ball from Kellond-Knight but again her shot was just wide.

Lisa De Vanna was next to get in on the act with a classy solo effort. The striker picked up the ball from 25 yards out, sprinted into the space before slotting home from 10 yards out.

Despite peppering the Czech goal for the rest of the half, the Matildas were unable to add to their 3-0 half time scoreline.

The second half was more of the same as Australia forced an corner in the 53rd minute. The initial corner came to Teresa Polias on the edge of the area.

Polias’ shot was pushed out by Sloupova only for Heyman to volley home from close range.

The Czech’s pulled a goal back just after the hour mark with Benyrova’s long range effort helped on by the gusting conditions to beat out Arnold.

The Matildas were undeterred and late on the Clare Polkinghorne and Ashleigh Sykes capped off the performance with late goals.

First with Polkinghorne’s header from a pin point Collette McCallum corner then with Sykes putting away the rebound ball after another storming De Vanna run and strike.

“Our execution in the front third was lacking but the girls tried hard in tough conditions.”

“It was the fourth game in eight days so it was a great effort to be able to finish off the tournament like we have.”

Australia now depart for the Australian Institute of Sport European Training Centre where they will be based for 3 weeks.

The conclusion of the European Tour will see the Matildas take on Scotland, Austria and Cameroon.

This week on WA’s The World Football Programme on Radio Fremantle 107.9fm, Penny Tanner teams up with Don Evans, recently back from the overseas launch of DT38. Join us for banter about Perth Glory’s match of the round against Wellington Phoenix Saturday night, Night Series updates and wrap of the Cyprus Cup. Guests on the line include Football West Women’s Development Officer Elisa D’Ovidio, Wanneroo City President Dean Bell, School Sports Coach Wayne Basedon and Inglewood United President Luke Martin. Join the conversation by texting us Saturday from 10am on 0408921832, sharing your comments and news on our Facebook Group or listening in live via the radiofremantle.com stream. The World Football Programme, 107.9fm Saturdays from 10 through midday Perth time.

Guest list:

Elisa D’Ovidio
Dean Bell
Wayne Basedon
Luke Martin

The studio will text your mobile ahead of time if we are ringing you for an interview.
If you are a studio guest please arrive at the studio at least ten minutes before your air time.

Thank you very much for your time and support in sharing your love for the game with us and our listeners! We encourage you to share our new Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/WFP107.9FM/ with your members and post your news and conversations to raise awareness of football generally in WA.

Feel free to copy this Media Release or post the above Review to any forum that is appropriate.

The Westfield Matildas were unable to follow up an impressive first up performance at the 2015 Cyprus Cup as they went down 3-0 to a Jodie Taylor inspired England on Saturday.

Football Federation Australia

Taylor, who played under Westfield Matildas Head Coach Alen Stajcic during the last Westfield W-League for Sydney FC, scored all three goals to put England, who are ranked sixth in the world, on top of the group.

Facing a team that had the luxury of rotating their entire squad as they brought in practically a new starting eleven for the match, the Westfield Matildas found themselves two goals behind after 17 minutes and never managed to recover despite creating their share of chances.

After the match, a disappointed Stajcic said it was a game his team would need to learn from going into June’s FIFA Women’s World Cup 2015 in Canada.

“There were some good patches but there were a lot of lessons to be learnt, we got caught on the hop in the first 15 minutes and it was a naive performance both with and without the ball,” Stajcic said.

“We probably had about 70 per cent of the possession and 70 per cent of the chances but our execution wasn’t as good as theirs and it was a big learning experience against a style of play that we need to do better against.”

Stajcic made three changes to the line up from the first up win over the Netherlands with Laura Alleway partnering Clare Polkinghorne in the centre of defence, while Larissa Crummer and Alanna Kennedy also started.

The Westfield Matildas had a number of corners early on but in the 8th minute Taylor pounced with an unstoppable strike from outside the penalty area to give England the lead.

Taylor then struck again in the 17th minute, this time expertly lofting the ball over the head of Westfield Matildas goalkeeper Brianna Davey.

The Westfield Matildas tried to force their way back into the contest, striker Michelle Heyman with two chances in the first 12 minutes of the second half but she could not find the back of the net.

Davey did well to deny Taylor in the 62nd minute before Stajcic went to his bench and made a host of changes including switching his goalkeepers as Davey was replaced by Mackenzie Arnold.

Clare Polkinghorne almost pegged a goal back for the Westfield Matildas with ten minutes to go after a goalmouth scramble but it was Taylor who would cap off a memorable afternoon as the English striker completed her hat trick in the 84th minute capitalising on a defensive mix up at the back.

In the other Group B match, the Netherlands and Finland played out a 0-0 draw. The Westfield Matildas take on Finland in their final group match early on Monday night (11.30pm kick-off, WA time).

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A free service to promote women's soccer in WA at grass roots level. Contact Penny on 0408 921 832 or socceron@womensoccer.com.au at any time for up-to-date news and information. Refer to Club Noticeboard for player, team and club news.